Cave a' Vin

I feel like this place is close to having the vibe that they want to have (a cute/classy French wine bar), but for me it's ruined by a few fixable things. Some things I noticed were a TV that's always on, music that doesn't fit the ambiance, closing at 10 when Google says they close at 11, or other small things that August nailed like having paper menus instead of plastic. Years ago they had some live music that was great (piano/a woman singing French songs), would love to see that again!

Unfortunately this place is just not very good. Pretty poor selection of wine in a somewhat bizarre atmosphere. With a little bit more effort, it could be a much welcomed addition to the going-out options in East Rock, but for now you’re better off drinking at home.

Cozy and cute. Food was excellent. Cheese board was delicious. A little dark and cold. My teenager picked this place for dessert fondue. White sangria was delicious.

Everything about this place is great! I do a lot of traveling and this is now one of my top places! The wine selection, atmosphere, seating, charcuterie selection, all are A+ for me which says a lot.

Bad execution. Hope the owners read this and make some changes; just constructive criticism. A small bar with big leather couches and a piano that takes up seating space. A bar manager is desperately needed. We literally had a lady argue about having the couch for herself...and her (young) son. Who brings a kid to a bar!? And so: the host gave her the seating area. We waited for our charcuterie plate and flatbread for 45 minutes...and had to cancel. It wasn't even made. Such a shame. Had high hopes at the beginning and it all fell apart. Oh, we never even got water.

Wonderful little wine bar with a small outdoor seating section. Had a great selection of wine and their happy hour prices are worth it. Loved their "wine flight" where you can try different kinds of wine without paying pull price for a whole glass. Would recommend and go back. Save room for dessert.

We enjoyed great food, live music and outstanding service! Mature, friendly atmosphere, beautiful decor and HUGE selection of wines. You can tell the food and desserts are meant to pair with a wide variety of wines. A nice selection of beer for the beer lovers as well. This place has something for everyone! Cheeses, crackers, meats warm olives, dips... The list goes on.... If you are looking to tantalize your taste buds THIS is the place to go. Well done Cave a' Vin.. Cheers 🥂

Fantastic happy hour with $5 wine, pizza, spinach artichoke dip, quesadilla, etc. Cozy atmosphere and friendly staff.

Good spot for a happy hour drink if you're cool with going with one of the small handful of options. I've found the happy hour whites to be pretty good and a nice value. Avoid food. It looks like a great deal but the portions are so comically small that it's actually a bit of a rip off. The food quality isn't great either. I've tried the fries, flat bread, and artichoke dip and didn't find any of them to be particularly good. Mixed experiences on service, a little hit or miss. Ambiance is nice and includes indoor seating as well as a few tables out front on state street.

Fun wine bar in East Rock neighborhood. Nice wine selection. Friendly owner made sure we had everything we wanted. There is comfortable lounge seating or you can sit at the bar with the locals. I look forward to going back again and taking a ride share home after a few glasses of primo vino.

Possibly my favorite wine bar in New Haven!! I love the decor and vibe inside - they have tall bar seats but also plush couches where you can really relax and chat with your friends. The staff are also super friendly. Their wine selection is awesome! And if you get a flight, it comes in these cute glasses and a stand. Their chocolate fondue is a great pairing to the wine. I've been here again since my first visit and will definitely be back!!!

This is one of my favorite cozy spots in the city. My friend I went around 4pm after they first opened for the evening. Both the staff and the ambiance were so warm. This is an intimate low-light spot (great for a romantic evening or pre/post dinner drink). For the happy hour specials, we got the spring rolls which were phenomenal. Our wine was fantastic, and it was so nice to see the owners and staff chatting with customers and sharing their love of wine. This place felt so genuine and elegant without being stuffy or intimidating. I would absolutely recommend this place. You'll be treated well and will not be disappointed. I promise.

The definition of a cute little spot. Lots of delicious appetizers, we got probably 6 different types and loved them all. Our waiter was very friendly and the interior has a cool, chill vibe. Comfy couches too!

We just can't get enough of this place !! Although short staff on Saturday we waited because we really enjoy this wine bar . Crab Cakes omg slamming !! My other absolute favorite is Cheeseboard , a selection to choose from which is fresh and very tasty pair it with one of your favorites wines and boom an amazing nite !! Seating indoors and outdoor, dim lighting casual place ! They have two seating areas inside that are black couches and can fit about 4 people. Then I'd say three more areas of seating 2 people the rest is at the bar . Lastly get you some fondue, the dark chocolate one , just remember when your eating it that I told you it was delicious

This was my first time at the wine bar and I fell in love with the atmosphere. Since we are back under a curfew, we wanted somewhere to relax before 10pm. He suggested we go here and have a few glasses of wine. It was empty when we entered so we sat on the couches facing the windows. Our waitress was super attentive and sweet and although she was new, she was helpful in selecting a wine. I went with a glass of red blend and a margherita pizza. It was such a lovely way to end the night. If you're looking for a quiet, yet enjoyable space, check them out.

This is such a great wine and cheese bar! It is intimate and cozy. Some Saturday nights feature live music. They have great cheese and meat platters and an extensive wine book. They also offer cocktails and beer. It is a great date spot. Last time I visited, the person next to me had the Mac and cheese with bacon and it smelled insanely delicious. Parking can be a challenge, but this place is worth circling for.

This place is my new favorite. If you're looking for a cute wine bar,come here. Very low key. Nice place to catch up with friends and chat. Good food and wine . I heard about the Mac and cheese. Gouda Mac and cheese to be correct. The Mac and cheese was so cheesy. Who doesn't love cheesy Mac and cheese! I ordered a glass of Reisling. I enjoyed the Reisling it was refreshing . The last order were mini cannolis. Super cute and sweet of course. Everything was on point. Prices are reasonable. I definitely had a good time. Michelle our server was cool. Great personality! I'm def going back !

I had to drop the rating significantly because of the poor hospitality they exhibit. This place started off stellar, now this place is a glorified Starbucks that serves wine. Always overran by college students that loiter, the new wait staff "Stefan" is beyond rude and not knowledgeable about wines and pairings. Just sad fall from grace.

The greatest owner and staff!!!! Friendly, delicious food, amazing wine, and perfect setting. One of those neighborhood bars where you do not need to live in the area to feel included in on this wine and dine haven of new haven. Definitely recommend!

This is such a hidden gem on State st! It is so cozy inside, with a few tables, the bar and the comfiest leather couches strewn throughout. Soft lighting and wine themed decorations round out the ambiance, along with acoustic tunes playing overhead. It was an absolute perfect Valentine's day/date spot! They have a great happy hour menu with $5 wine options and a yummy spinach artichoke dip. What really shined though were their cheese boards; my friend and I shared a small one with the drunken goat cheese (goat cheese soaked in red wine), but it was divine! It came with 3 different types of crackers, some plump grapes and a strawberry/cantaloupe slice on top. The perfect thing to snack on with a glass of wine. Also, the service went above and beyond and helped my friend find her earring. Definitely check it out if you want to do happy hour in East Rock!

It's a cute place near a bunch of other restaurants on the upper State St corridor. Service is SLOW. As in you will wait forever for your food because there is only one person in the kitchen and everything is made to order. The waitress also left out several of the items we ordered so we had to wait for those and seemed incredibly overwhelmed generally. The drinks were good, especially the sangria but the food was not and left much to be desired. Want to bring a group here for happy hour? Not happening: small-ish establishment + made to order kitchen = hungry groups. I also felt like we were rushed out of the establishment (management was standing near our table looking at us the entire time, even though other patrons that came in before us weren't given that level of concentration). As soon as we got up they swarmed to clean up and spilt up the tables for other people to sit. I recommend this place if you have a party of three or less otherwise go to Oak Haven or a similarly sized restaurant.

Cave a vin is a cute little wine bar on State St. They have a romantic ambiance and an attentive staff. There is a decent selection of wine by the glass, and you can create your own flight. It would be nice if they had a few suggested flights too. They don't have a full menu, but they do have a few appetizers, desserts, and meat and cheese plates. The meat and cheese plates are very generous. Definitely looking forward to a few after work drinks here : )

After a final exam, followed by 6 hours of clinical, my friend and I were starving and eager to unwind. This establishment was a place I had not yet visited, however my friend is essentially a regular here. It's a cute little spot, with both tables and armchairs - quaint and quiet, but not pretentious. My friend and I ordered both the warm fig Brie (appetizer) and Mac n Cheese pizza (entrée) to share. I must stay, the food here was delightful. It could be considered a moderately costly dinner (nothing outrageous), but Cave a Vin offers good food, good service, and a nice atmosphere. Verdict: I'd return!

I've never experienced such rude staff. Be sure to chug your wine as the staff will be shoving you out of the door claiming they need the table when there is no line. I don't know what their problem is, but it ruined any kind of enjoyment. Never again.

Came on a Friday night, and they have live music! The place is packed with chairs and tables, and it is very tight inside. I came on a cold winter evening, and to keep the warmth in, they have a heavy cloth curtain over the door. Seating is as it becomes free, and I found a spot in the corner being vacated just as I had arrived. The place has a very cozy/intimate feel, and other than the music being loud (I mean, I came during a live music night), it is an excellent date/friend-catch-up spot. I was pleased that they had a few hard ciders to choose from. We ordered a cheese plate to go with our drinks, and it's not my thing, but I could tell it was nicely selected.

I genuinely love this spot. The food is great. The wine is delicious. It's a cute intimate wine bar that has awesome live music on Friday nights. The only issues I have is with finding parking. Once parking is found, it's a great night.

The wine we had was good. But other than that that the rest of our experience was poor. We went on a Friday night. The place was not busy and yet the service was SO slow. Our food took forever to turn up and when it did it was dreadful. The cheeseboard...was laughable. Poor quality cheeses and dried out bread. I make better cheese plates at home and this was $30! Then we got the fries...about an hour after we ordered them. They were oven fries. They tasted so bad I could not eat them. $90 bill. Total waste of money. Will not be returning.

One of my favorite restaurants in New Haven. Luckily, it is right across the street from where I usually stay so I can dine in or do take out. Everything I've had here is amazing and reasonably priced. I love all types of comfort food and the dishes here are out of this world! It's a cozy and intimate bar for limited seating. Their menu consists of a selection of wine and cheese (my kind of place), pizza, paninis, and salads. They have one of the best onion soups ($7) I've had - the gruyere cheese was plentiful and perfectly melted and the soup was not too salty. I am also a fan of the gouda mac and cheese bacon pizza ($10) because my favorite cheese is gouda, and i also love the pulled pork panini ($11). The paninis come with potato chips so you'll always leave happy and full. The food here is outstanding. I am so happy that I discovered this restaurant! It has a lot of my favorite foods (cheese, gouda pizza, French onion soup, wine, etc)! I definitely want to try the dessert and the cheese boards next time I am at New Haven!

A lovely spot for happy hour! It is in a really cute walkable area. Some colleagues and I stopped by after a long day. We sat outside. It was perfect weather and very comfortable, although it got a little crowded when a large-ish group decided to squeeze around a little patio table behind us. I ordered a wine flight. Totally order a wine flight! It's a good way to sample from the extensive wine menu and not get totally wasted while doing so. I tried a rosé and two reds. One of my colleagues wanted beer, and there was a good selection of local beers and other craft beers - small, but excellent. We also ordered off the happy hour menu - queso blanco, spinach and artichoke dip, and the hummus, which came with both cracker and delicious fresh vegetables. All tasty and good for a nice afternoon out! The service was nice and not too up-in-your-business.

Such an incredible atmosphere. The food and wine were both so amazing, and the live music made for the perfect evening.

So cute! The menu has something for everyone. They have GF crackers so I was able to have a cheese board. The staff is so friendly and helpful. The wine list is expansive without being overwhelming. They have one of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs that i haven't seen at many restaurants. We split a bunch of small plates all were very good. I would love to come back for dessert next time. The menu looked so good.

I came here with two friends on a Friday night. There was a live acoustic guitar player who was singing - not really what I was in the mood for but a nice offering. The venue was super casual. There weren't a lot of people coming in and out even though it was late night. Our waitress kind of disappeared at times. Wine menu is definitely substantial with helpful descriptions. I know it's a small thing, but this is the only place I've ever been where they'll bring you the single-serving wine carafe and not pour it in the glass for you. I found that a little odd.

really enjoyed my flight of wines. Got a cheese board with balsamic onion cheese and mango ginger cheese. yum! will come again

Horrible. I went with friends. All I ordered was 3 tacos and 2 wines. Can you tell me why it took +45 minutes for tacos? Everyones food came out and I was waiting there for 3 tacos!!!! Does that make sense? tgey charged for everything except one wine taken off. The place is awful. Don't ever go there

Really adorable place. Nice bar with couches for comfy sitting. Amazon. That they do the wine flights so you can try and rate many different types. On Saturdays they have entertainment and it is really great and relaxing. For food we tried the Mac and cheese which was delicious and the salted Carmel chocolate cake which was great but super small. The reason for the 4 stars is that the food took so long to come out which makes sense since they have a tiny kitchen. But all in all great experience, just order the food before the wine.

I love this CONCEPT! It's an intimate setting with choices of local brews, featured wines, light fare such as cheeses, salads and appetizers, as well as desserts in colorful script on chalkboards placed strategically about the bar. They carry an extensive selection of wine and cheese, carry a limited number of premium liquors, and sell bottles of wine, too, We three followed what seems to be the standard approach and went that route getting a bottle of sparkling wine. We added desserts -- Gelato trios and Cannoli and it was all very tasty. Atmosphere is pleasant and intimate -- not too fancy but comfortable with a very diverse and interesting mix of Baby Boomers, GenX and a spattering of Millennials.. On this Friday night there was a live jazz quartet who were basically playing in among the patrons. (This place is small.) And, the weather was unseasonably warm for late October so other patrons were sitting outside and enjoying a pretty evening. The only thing I would change is the barstools. Stools that high either need a foot rail for shorter patrons to leverage themselves up into them or strong foot rests built on to provide a step up. Otherwise, it was a great place to spend an evening.

Great wine bar in New Haven. Try their wine sampler where you get to try three different 2 oz wines arranged in a pretty cool way. Had the crab cakes and the buffalo chicken pizza which were delicious. Also tried the fondue which was nice. They also had someone playing the piano which was a nice touch. You can sit at the bar, table or the comfortable sofas. Great place for a date.

The service was excellent. The server tried to make us feel great and comfortable during the whole time that we were in this place. What I didn't like about this restaurant is that their light is to deemed. It was hard to look at the things right. Other than that, I loved the music, atmosphere and service.

I had already been to this place for dinner and wine with friends and was impressed. The atmosphere is cozy and cool. I saw online that they make up picnic boxes. You can choose your wraps, cheeses, olives, add-ins, desserts etc. from the extensive charcuterie menu. I picked it up and it was packaged as a to go order. The web site pictures a cardboard box that has a picnic basket look to it so I questioned it and they apologized. The server who was new, didn't realize I was ordering a picnic box. They sent over a glass of wine while they repackaged it for me, which was awesome. We took the box to a park the next day and were so happy with it. Everything was packaged individually. The cheeses and meats were packaged in white paper and twine, all labeled. The crackers and bread were in a small brown paper sack. The olives, fruit, and truffles we ordered were all in pretty cellophane and twine. Paper plates, napkins, disposable utensils were included in the box. It was perfect! It was truly an unforgettable date! I recommend this to anyone looking for something to bring to a romantic picnic excursion, as a gift, or just to friends house. They will be impressed!

Went here for my first time tonight, and loved it! The wine was very good, and we only had the charcuterie/cheese board and crab cakes. Both were delicious! I also LOVE how they have a sheet with everything you can put on your board, and you just check what you want off! Loved the vibe and our waitress was great!! I can't wait to go back and try more wine and more of their food!!

So i discovered this fine little wine bar last year and can't say enough about how much of great establishment it is. From the delicious food made fresh to order to the wine and beer selection, to the ambience and coziness of the confines inside and outside (during the summertime) of this amazing establishment. I have been a local resident in the East Rock section of New Haven for the last 2 years and this has become my go to place. It is owned and managed by Tony and Linda who are 2 of the most nicest and accommodating people I have met. Also the staff has made me feel like I am part of the wine bar family. I am very grateful and proud to say that I am a regular customer and will continue to be in the future. Peter Paris

Met the owners in NYC. We are very excited to visit this swanky little place. Looks fabulous!

On my friend's birthday, we stopped by here for a nightcap before heading home. He's a wine fanatic, so he knew exactly what he wanted to try while the rest of us didn't. It was a Friday night, so there was quite loud (and mediocre) live music in the background that was nice. It had just rained, unfortunately, so the outside was too wet to sit on (and was quite humid), so we sat inside near the performers. The staff gave us menus relatively quickly to look over, and we ordered the cheaper wines for the most part. Surprisingly, to me, the staff didn't really ask us if we had any questions about the menu or if we wanted any recommendations, which struck me as a bit odd for a wine bar. The wine came out relatively quickly, but the one glass of water took around 10 minutes to come out. The location is beautiful, though. We sat at some oak barrels as tables, and the entire wood aesthetic is gorgeous, even in the low light when we went. Overall, I think that we might've caught it on an off night since it seemed a bit busy and it might not have been exactly what we were looking for ambiance wise with the live music, but we had been dying to try the place. I'll certainly go back again to see how my experience compares at a different time and update my review as appropriate!

The hidden gem of Hamden indeed. Amazing selection of wine from variety of countries. It is definitely a wine bar. With regard to food, nothing impressive really. Flat bread pizzas are no better than frozen pizzas but their paninis are great alternatives. Go for happy hour wines but not really for their food.

I would honestly give this place 5 stars for the pianist! I'm not sure if he's there all the time, but he was wonderful! The wine list is extensive, but if you're not sure what you want, you can do a flight of 3 wines! They also have great and substantial food and dessert options, which is rare for a wine bar! The inside is small, but feels spacious. I like that there are non traditional seating options, like sofa chairs and couches!

We arrived on a Saturday night around 6:30, we sat right down. It was such a cute place. We wanted to sit outside but it was chilly so we went with the high top/barrel seating by the window. The place reminded me of France, very sweet. But then I sat down at the table. So uncomfortable! You either had to spread your legs out so far it hits, or put your legs to the side of the barrel or sit Indian style. It was a struggle! Very cute looking but not practical at all! Our server was a delight, very informative about the menu and wines. Let us try wines as well. She did inform us right away that all food takes 35 minutes to come out and it doesn't matter what it is because kitchen is so small. Being a chef I wanted to go back there and see the kitchen since I have worked in many small kitchens...we ordered wine, cheese board and nachos. And yes it took 35 minutes for it to come out. But we were in no rush, plus we got live music which was lovely. We did have a lot of annoying nats near our wine all night which I wasn't sure if it was from the lines being dirty or because the door was open. It was annoying, one landed in my wine. my cheese board was excellent! I appreciated all the varieties of sides and plenty of cheese! My husband said the nachos were just ok. We also ordered dessert. I chose fondue which was awesome! My hubby got lava cake which was awful, inedible like rubber and dry. Overall it was a nice evening they have some kinks to work out. I will give it a try again and hope I can give it a better review next time!

Excellent wine bar! We had a few hours to spare before a wedding party so decided to stop by. First off the place is cozy, with cool wine barrels with glass tops as tables. The waiter was really nice and was helpful when my gf and I were choosing wines. They offer an enormous selection of wines and fair prices. My girlfriend got the Riesling which was solid and I opted for a flight. In the flight came a wine called "vinotag". If you like smokey flavors this wine is for you. It was incredible! My girlfriend who doesn't usually like reds also loved it We also ordered a smoked Gouda cheese plate. It had a large amount of delicious cheese paired with different varieties of bread, grapes and strawberries Only disappointment was that the waiter forgot about our order of the cheese plate. Mistakes happen but it would've been nice if it was taken off of our bill as we were almost done w the wine by the time it came out. That being said, great place with really nice employees. If I'm back in the area, will definitely be stopping by

This place is so quaint and cute. A perfect happy hour spot with $5 glasses of wine and $5 shared appetizers. It's so comfy and warm a great place to relax in the winter.

intimate cozy af polite staff art! live music! DANK wine and small plates Come here if ya wanna cheeeeeel the eff out

This cute intimate wine bar is a great place to get a quiet drink and have an intimate conversation. Perfect for date nights and catching up with friends, Cave a vin has comfy couches, a bar, small 2 person tables and outdoor seating in the warmer months. They also sometimes feature live music. Their wine list is the most extensive of anywhere I've seen in New Haven with pages of pages of options all neatly categorized by type and numbered in boldness variation. If you're looking to expand your wine knowledge or are a full on wine snob you'll be happy here. And if you can't decide what you want you can always go for a wine sampler which gives you 3 2oz. Pours of different types on a cute 3 tiered metal rack. I've never had a real meal here although the menu looks pretty good even though its mostly just simple paninis. I've mostly come for wine and cheese or dessert. They have a pretty good variety of cheese options and I've enjoyed everyone I've had. I also really like their truffles especially their cayenne pepper one. Most recently I had their fondue platter which was really tasty except they describe it as having fruit and other goodies, which meant there was a few pieces or strawberries and bananas but it mostly consistent of different varieties of cookies. I consider myself to have a pretty epic sweet tooth but dipping chocolate cookies in a vat of melted chocolate seemed aggressive even for me. I would probably pass on that next time or request only fruit. The server I had was really friendly and attentive and was happy to make wine recommend recommendations based on my taste. I'm just wondering why I don't come here more often!

Very fun experience here on a Saturday night. The wine selection was awesome and the descriptions are very helpful to pick out something you might like. You can do 2 oz flights if you're not sure what you want but we went with full glasses. The food was great here too. They may have served our favorite cheese plate to date. You have a slip and you check off the meats/cheeses that you want and it's served up like a cornucopia of food - there's bread and crackers and fruit all stacked around the cheeses. Nice presentation and it was all tasty. We split a bunch of sandwiches and a personal pizza after the cheese. The homemade chips that come with the sandwiches are excellent. It's a fairly small kitchen so I'm not sure if everything is made in-house. I found the curved serving dishes fun but a little annoying if you put any pressure on them since they roll sideways. It's away from downtown the secluded location can be nice if you want to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle. Street parking is easy too. We were leaving as they were setting up music and there was a large crowd coming in to hear it so I'd like to come back and try that out (but get there early from the look of it).

Looking for a wine bar lacking pretentiousness? Look no further than Cave a'Vin. With an incredibly warm and relaxing atmosphere, this place greets you like a comfy hug. It's tiny, with limited lounge-type seating and a bar that accommodates maybe 10, so I imagine reservations are required on Fridays and Saturdays if you want to eat at a decent hour. I love that the wine list is broken out by style rather than region or varietal - it makes choosing a bit easier for those who may not be super into wine. They also offer flights and 2 ounce pours in addition to the usual glass and bottle, which is great if you want to experiment and try multiple wines without getting drunk and breaking the bank. I haven't had the opportunity to try food beyond the happy hour hummus (which, let's be honest, it's pretty hard to fuck up hummus), but the menu looked awesome - traditional italian small plates / panini / pizza. Reminds me a lot of my old watering hole Bin228 in Hartford. I will definitely be back - whether it's alone, with a date or a friend, this place is pretty much perfect for all occasions.

Oh this place is cute, food and drinks are just fine! Their only mistake: they switched my glass of wine. The panini was messy, but oh so delish- so I'd suggest the bacon one if you wish. They have comfy chairs for you to sit and chat. And it wasn't too busy- imagine that! And only $5 for happy hour delights? If you come to Cave A' Vin, see me you just might!

Update: Went back a few times. Ordered food on one occasion - it was good. Went with another couple and tried an assortment of cheeses and charcuterie. Everything was really good, with interesting accompaniments. My partner went back recently after they advertised a Sangria special, but was disappointed in the Sangria.... better to stick to the wine... ---------- Plusses: New Haven has a wine bar! It's an important addition to the nightlife scene here. A nice alternative to the usual bars, it's small and cozy, with friendly staff. It has an extensive wine list, with many offerings by the glass or taste, and you can design your own flight. We didn't taste the food, but rumor has it that it's good. There were a number of good options on the cheese and charcuterie list, and everything that went by us looked good. There are some very good wines on the menu, no more expensive by the glass or taste than some of the less expensive ones. If you know what you are doing, you can get some good values. What would make it better: One of the downsides of a big wine list is that some of the wines just aren't that great. We tried a malbec from the "fruity menu" that was utterly astringent. Not well described, and just not that good. It didn't help that we paired it with another "fruity" zinfandel - this one was an excellent wine (retails for $30/bottle, we found out later), and made the malbec seem even worse by comparison. So, some suggestions for flight combinations would be helpful. The combination we ordered should have been good based on descriptions, but did not go well together in actuality. There was live music when we were there, one guy and a guitar, which was a nice idea, but in such a small space it would have been better to have him be acoustic, or at least turn down the amp. It was very difficult to hear people next to you. The place can get crowded on weekends. Good to try it later in the evening or on a weeknight. Looking forward to returning to try the food.

Really lovely little wine bar with a homey feel and fun live music. The wines by the glass list is perhaps the most extensive you'll find in New Haven; what stands out is the sheer variety of wines you can taste. This might seem a given for a wine bar, but too often it seems, small-city bars don't want to take chances, and their lists feature permutations of the same old same old crowd pleasers. This is not the case with Cave a' Vin. Their wines are priced honestly, and it's nice to give the knowledgeable staff an idea of your tastes, and have them put together a flight or two. You are bound to be pleased and often surprised by their choices. The small plates served are surprisingly good (I say that because the 'kitchen' looks as big as a closet...and like the clowns at the circus that spill out of the VW Beetle, they keep bringing out good food from a seemingly magic little box!) The hummus is excellent, a generous portion accompanied by warm pita; the artichoke dip is tasty and satisfying; and the crab cakes are a really nice consistency, the perfect light summer dinner. The staff (I think they are a family?) are all pleasant and helpful; this sounds hokey, but it really does feel like you are a guest in their home. You can tell that this is a labor of love, and it's one that they do very well. All in all, a perfect and inexpensive date night (or friend night, or treat-yourself night...!)

Perfect atmosphere. Lovely owner and employees. Great appetizers and desserts. Mmmmmm....... Love the happy hour sangria!

4 stars seems fair considering the menu is rather pricey for food. Wine flight is a great idea, the pours are decent and you can try three wines for about $10. The wine list is very extensive! Watch out for going over-board on the cheese board. This is where you can really spend a lot. You pick the cheese, meat (extra charge) and other yummy treats for your board and they come out with a big spread for you. It did take a bit of time for it to come out, however the homemade fig jelly is INCREDIBLE. Do not get the chocolate covered oreo. It wasn't that great and was $2.